The Filipino bolo (pic)

M

Michael Bennett

Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
666
Here's a picture of my bolo:

bolo.jpg



It's about 16" overall (not having measured it.) Construction is best described as crude. It's blade is OCS (that's heat 'n beat slang for "Old Chevy Spring.")

Blade is forged and shows numerous scratches from filing. Fit (handle to blade) is fair, finish is poor, but this blade is not designed to be a wall-hanger. I've seen them in heavy use clearing brush after a monsoon.

It's a knife that ain't pretty, but is very functional.

Holds a good edge, I've had reports of others being used to take down a 6" diameter pine in 3 chops. Also had reports of the blade bending or folding when they meet a rock.

Handle is wood secured with a peened disk at the back and a soldered/welded steel support (I forget what it's called) in the front. They are sold rusty & beat up - there is no attempt to pretty them.

Mike
 
There was a reason our troops were scared of the Moros with thier bolos when the cocnut husks they wrapped around body caused the .38 to be ineffective, they work very eficently. A great tool and hand to hand weapon.
 
Absolutely. Mine will likely never see combat, but may battle with kindling occasionally.

It's a neat albeit ugly user.

Mike
 
Where did you get it? How much?

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Mine was a gift. I don't have an exact dollar value, but I can't imagine that they were very expensive, as they are made mostly of recycled material.

Mike
 
Mike, we used to buy them (in the PI) for $5 back in the 1980s. I had mine for years (looked different than yours but had about the same drop on the blade). I recently gave it to a fellow instructor as a gift... He had been drooling over it for many years.

They are fairly useful... and are cheap. However the steel is not tempered and they need regular filing to take out all the dings....

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